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| New London CT to Chesapeake City MD October 2006 |
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Our trip to Michigan for Penny's Dad's 90th Birthday was great fun. He was surprised
by his restored Edsel brought up from Texas by his son, Reg and children. His sisters,
children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nephews and extended family
celebrated with the usual Brown Family vigor. We did manage to stop at Annapolis to
have a quick shopping spree at the annual Boat Show. Upon our return to New London
at Thamesport Marina, Tues Oct 10th, the weather turns nasty so we spend a few
days reprovisioning, visiting Fred's Shanty and planning. We cataloged all the
information we gathered at the Annapolis Boat Show and debated what improvements
we had found would be put in place and when. Richard did install new start batteries
and we had the bottom cleaned. We rose very early on Sat Oct 14th and left the
dock of New London in the early morning fog...what a surprise! As the ferries are
aggressive in the outgoing channel we decided to wait for better visibility and finally
headed out to the Sound about 8:30am. We are headed to as far as we can get
today....hopefully, Port Washington. The day is clear and warm to begin with light
winds. We raised sail optimistically. However....
by his restored Edsel brought up from Texas by his son, Reg and children. His sisters,
children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nephews and extended family
celebrated with the usual Brown Family vigor. We did manage to stop at Annapolis to
have a quick shopping spree at the annual Boat Show. Upon our return to New London
at Thamesport Marina, Tues Oct 10th, the weather turns nasty so we spend a few
days reprovisioning, visiting Fred's Shanty and planning. We cataloged all the
information we gathered at the Annapolis Boat Show and debated what improvements
we had found would be put in place and when. Richard did install new start batteries
and we had the bottom cleaned. We rose very early on Sat Oct 14th and left the
dock of New London in the early morning fog...what a surprise! As the ferries are
aggressive in the outgoing channel we decided to wait for better visibility and finally
headed out to the Sound about 8:30am. We are headed to as far as we can get
today....hopefully, Port Washington. The day is clear and warm to begin with light
winds. We raised sail optimistically. However....
We did not get as far as expected as the wind and the notorious Long Island Sound
was slamming our bow into building waves of 3-4 feet with increasing intervals,
looking like box cars. We opted out for Branford, CT, a few miles less than our
original destination, a friendly safe and quiet hole. We spent the night on their fuel
dock after bucking 25 kts winds for 8 hours. Thank you, Paul!
was slamming our bow into building waves of 3-4 feet with increasing intervals,
looking like box cars. We opted out for Branford, CT, a few miles less than our
original destination, a friendly safe and quiet hole. We spent the night on their fuel
dock after bucking 25 kts winds for 8 hours. Thank you, Paul!
We head out at dawn again and hope to make it to Port Washington. All is well early but
the seas build quickly and we are in the same position as yesterday. We decide to
divert to the other side of the sound to see if it is more favorable...alas, not. We will
not make it to our destination port once more so plan B goes into effect. Huntington
Harbor looks good so we head there. We find on our arrival that our predicament is
obviously not important or high priority. After hailing all marinas listed, harbor master
and all radio contacts expected to be monitoring the harbor, we are at a loss. So we
pull up to the empty city dock and wait for some one to shoo us off. We are
temporarily displaced by a fishing trawler requiring a pump out but we return and
settle in for the night. This is a harbor in transition, all moorings full of boats ready to
be hauled for the season tomorrow, we are just in the way.
the seas build quickly and we are in the same position as yesterday. We decide to
divert to the other side of the sound to see if it is more favorable...alas, not. We will
not make it to our destination port once more so plan B goes into effect. Huntington
Harbor looks good so we head there. We find on our arrival that our predicament is
obviously not important or high priority. After hailing all marinas listed, harbor master
and all radio contacts expected to be monitoring the harbor, we are at a loss. So we
pull up to the empty city dock and wait for some one to shoo us off. We are
temporarily displaced by a fishing trawler requiring a pump out but we return and
settle in for the night. This is a harbor in transition, all moorings full of boats ready to
be hauled for the season tomorrow, we are just in the way.
Monday Oct 16th, we are off the dock before 7:00 am and into
the Long Island Sound once again. Things are quieter. We reach
Port Washington by 10:30 and so we decide that the day is calm
and clear and we should persist. On to NYC!!! Our passage though
the Big Apple was exhilarating, clear and formidable. All the
books warn of strong currents, lots of traffic and they are true.
However, our passing through the East River was comfortable.
Little traffic, currents as predicted and skipper knowledge at
work and we enjoyed the view. The camera however did not
comply due to salt crystals jamming the lens. Waved at Ellen
Noghes as we passed her apartment close to the UN. If only our
cameras, hers and ours, could have recorded the blessed event.
On to the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridge, very beautiful, the
Battery and the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and we were spit
out at 9 kts into the Harbor. Some waiting tugs and barges, the
Staten Island Ferry and the upcoming Verrazano bridge were
our next challenges. All pass safely and we headed to Sandy
Hook, NJ to our next new home port, Atlantic Highlands.
the Long Island Sound once again. Things are quieter. We reach
Port Washington by 10:30 and so we decide that the day is calm
and clear and we should persist. On to NYC!!! Our passage though
the Big Apple was exhilarating, clear and formidable. All the
books warn of strong currents, lots of traffic and they are true.
However, our passing through the East River was comfortable.
Little traffic, currents as predicted and skipper knowledge at
work and we enjoyed the view. The camera however did not
comply due to salt crystals jamming the lens. Waved at Ellen
Noghes as we passed her apartment close to the UN. If only our
cameras, hers and ours, could have recorded the blessed event.
On to the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridge, very beautiful, the
Battery and the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and we were spit
out at 9 kts into the Harbor. Some waiting tugs and barges, the
Staten Island Ferry and the upcoming Verrazano bridge were
our next challenges. All pass safely and we headed to Sandy
Hook, NJ to our next new home port, Atlantic Highlands.
This is a great, comfortable harbor and we welcome it as the AHYC so graciously
welcomes us. By early afternoon we are on to our mooring by guided launch and into
town for a quick dog walk and neighborhood check out. We feel safe and sheltered.
There is again the typical weather of this season coming towards us so we will be
spending a couple of days. We need some work done on our fuel system and have found
a group in Highlands, All American Mobile Mechanics, that can take care of us the next
morning. We celebrated the evening with a fine steak dinner, a great bottle of red
and a sense of accomplishment.
welcomes us. By early afternoon we are on to our mooring by guided launch and into
town for a quick dog walk and neighborhood check out. We feel safe and sheltered.
There is again the typical weather of this season coming towards us so we will be
spending a couple of days. We need some work done on our fuel system and have found
a group in Highlands, All American Mobile Mechanics, that can take care of us the next
morning. We celebrated the evening with a fine steak dinner, a great bottle of red
and a sense of accomplishment.
Tuesday we remain in the area but move to Highlands to have our fuel system blown out. All American
did a fine job, were very helpful at very fair prices. Penny and Otis went for a very long walk through
the town, seeing signs of damage when Ernesto came through. The anchorage we are in lost 22 boats
with 70 mph winds, two still askew on the shore. By 1:00pm we are back on our mooring, waiting for the
winds to subside and the storm to pass. Richard installed our new stereo and iPod system and then we
all went for a long dog walk....in foul weather gear! When will we get south and to better weather? The
town is extremely friendly and quaint so the wait is still entertaining.
did a fine job, were very helpful at very fair prices. Penny and Otis went for a very long walk through
the town, seeing signs of damage when Ernesto came through. The anchorage we are in lost 22 boats
with 70 mph winds, two still askew on the shore. By 1:00pm we are back on our mooring, waiting for the
winds to subside and the storm to pass. Richard installed our new stereo and iPod system and then we
all went for a long dog walk....in foul weather gear! When will we get south and to better weather? The
town is extremely friendly and quaint so the wait is still entertaining.
Wednesday dawns clear, calm and warm! Yahoo. The weather report is still
iffy so we walk town at a leisurely pace and return for lunch. Our next leg is
an overnight, offshore trip down the coast of New Jersey to Cape May, the
only inlet for 115 miles that we can safely navigate. We expect it to be about
20 hours. We check the weather and all has calmed down so we take the
window with 3 other boats and depart at 1:30pm. This way we will arrive in
the morning with sufficient light to navigate the inlet. There is not much
traffic along this coast so dodging barges and tankers should not be a
problem. Also, Otis' perception will be that night is sleep time and he will not
need a "walk" or have the urge if we keep him below. We start with 3 hour
shifts at the helm while the other rests and all is going well, the wind is light
but with us so we motor sail until 6:00pm. Penny relinquishes the helm to
Richard and takes Otis below but we have quiet a heel as the winds have built
and the sea is choppy. Otis is nervous being below in the roll and Pen is sick!
We finally both tucked into the sea berth, hanging on to each other and kindly
sleep came. Richard held on until midnight, Pen felt better and took the helm
in calmer seas. We kept up 6 kts all night. The sun rose by 7:00am and we
came into the inlet with 3 other boats about 8:00am. Successful docking at
Utsch's, Richard cooked breakfast and we all went down for a nap. We rode
bicycles into town that afternoon which was a Keystone Cop Comedy moment
as we balanced our bags of booty on the handle bars. Too funny! Had a quick,
comfort food dinner and tucked in very early.
iffy so we walk town at a leisurely pace and return for lunch. Our next leg is
an overnight, offshore trip down the coast of New Jersey to Cape May, the
only inlet for 115 miles that we can safely navigate. We expect it to be about
20 hours. We check the weather and all has calmed down so we take the
window with 3 other boats and depart at 1:30pm. This way we will arrive in
the morning with sufficient light to navigate the inlet. There is not much
traffic along this coast so dodging barges and tankers should not be a
problem. Also, Otis' perception will be that night is sleep time and he will not
need a "walk" or have the urge if we keep him below. We start with 3 hour
shifts at the helm while the other rests and all is going well, the wind is light
but with us so we motor sail until 6:00pm. Penny relinquishes the helm to
Richard and takes Otis below but we have quiet a heel as the winds have built
and the sea is choppy. Otis is nervous being below in the roll and Pen is sick!
We finally both tucked into the sea berth, hanging on to each other and kindly
sleep came. Richard held on until midnight, Pen felt better and took the helm
in calmer seas. We kept up 6 kts all night. The sun rose by 7:00am and we
came into the inlet with 3 other boats about 8:00am. Successful docking at
Utsch's, Richard cooked breakfast and we all went down for a nap. We rode
bicycles into town that afternoon which was a Keystone Cop Comedy moment
as we balanced our bags of booty on the handle bars. Too funny! Had a quick,
comfort food dinner and tucked in very early.
Friday morning, Oct 20th is rain and wind once more. Many boats coming in to wait out the
weather. We cleaned, organized, did a few small repairs and visited with our new
neighbors. A couple from Boston, Bob and Sara with their dog Bentley came into the slip
next to us and the dogs had a grand time. Richard and Penny headed to the showers and
spiffed up for a "Date Night". Hors d'oeuvres and cocktails aboard followed by a
delicious dinner at a local landmark within walking distance, The Lobster House. A last
jaunt to Lucky Bones to listen to some music and mingle with the locals, and a good time
was had by all. Brother Peter and his lovely wife, Ginger, flew in on Saturday afternoon on
their return trip from North Carolina. We gathered forces with a few other transients
making the trek through the Chesapeake-Delaware Canal tomorrow and planned and
charted our rendezvous. Then we headed to the Raw Bar at the Lobster House once more.
weather. We cleaned, organized, did a few small repairs and visited with our new
neighbors. A couple from Boston, Bob and Sara with their dog Bentley came into the slip
next to us and the dogs had a grand time. Richard and Penny headed to the showers and
spiffed up for a "Date Night". Hors d'oeuvres and cocktails aboard followed by a
delicious dinner at a local landmark within walking distance, The Lobster House. A last
jaunt to Lucky Bones to listen to some music and mingle with the locals, and a good time
was had by all. Brother Peter and his lovely wife, Ginger, flew in on Saturday afternoon on
their return trip from North Carolina. We gathered forces with a few other transients
making the trek through the Chesapeake-Delaware Canal tomorrow and planned and
charted our rendezvous. Then we headed to the Raw Bar at the Lobster House once more.
5:00am revelry for all. It is 46 degrees but calm and clear. Peter and Ginger cast
us off and all 3 boats head out together. We round Cape May into the Delaware
River. The sun is up 7:15, the wind is from the south which is fine and the tide is
helping us up the Bay. We motor sailed at 7-9 kts which is great as we want to make
the canal for a favorable tide. We enter the Canal successfully at 3:00pm with
"Sadie A" before us and "Finesterre" not far behind, headed to Chesapeake City.
We came into the small, protected anchorage by 5:30pm as the winds were rising
and the temperature was falling. Quickly dropped the dinghy and took the dog for a
walk in this delightful village. We shall explore more tomorrow....more incoming
winter weather!
us off and all 3 boats head out together. We round Cape May into the Delaware
River. The sun is up 7:15, the wind is from the south which is fine and the tide is
helping us up the Bay. We motor sailed at 7-9 kts which is great as we want to make
the canal for a favorable tide. We enter the Canal successfully at 3:00pm with
"Sadie A" before us and "Finesterre" not far behind, headed to Chesapeake City.
We came into the small, protected anchorage by 5:30pm as the winds were rising
and the temperature was falling. Quickly dropped the dinghy and took the dog for a
walk in this delightful village. We shall explore more tomorrow....more incoming
winter weather!
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free of charge. No material printed or copied from this site, electronically or in any other form, may be sold or included in any work to
be sold without explicit permission from the authors. Most maps and charts have been extracted from Google Earth and Maptech, and we
thank them for their use.
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Travels of the Viking Rose